From Aotea to Aotea Square, that was the hīkoi for Great Barrier mana whenua on Saturday to protest the dumping of Auckland Harbour sludge on their fishing grounds.
Spokesperson Kelly Klink says about 70 people made the journey from the island, and were joined by 200 supporters for the march up Queen St.
They're fighting an Environment Protection Authority decision to allow Coastal Resources Ltd to dump up to 250,000 cubic metres of dredge waste a year for 35 years at a spot about 25 kilometres from the island.
She says the work is for the benefit of cruise ships and rich boat owners, not the island residents, and the company seems to be ignoring both the science and public opinion.
"It's really 'tick the boxes, we've done what we have to do, we don't have to come to the island to kōrero with the people, the ahi kā, to tell them where we will be dumping.' That sediment will come into the whole Hauraki Gulf Reserve but it's just an old school mentality that they can do whatever they want," Ms Klink says.
Dumping opponents intend to appeal the Environment Protection Authority decision to the High Court later this month.
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